amateaurs...... everyday for me consists of atleast 4 coke zeros (more on the weekends), 2-3 cups of coffee w/ splenda (the horror!), and a mix of around 3 or 4 other cans of diet soda like diet rootbeer or sprite zero.

i'm not addicted to caffeine or anything. i just hate water...........

just as i sat down to my computer for some much needed serious eats time with a bowl of honey kix i saw this post! i am absolutely addicted to this stuff and usually eat it atleast once a day. i make sort of my own mix though, combining honey kix, captain crunch, and kashi 7 grain puffs cereal. sooooooo good :)

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate the suggestions! To respond to any questions, in general, I do not have a budget persay, but since the trip is about a week and that means buying atleast 3 meals a day for four people, I'm not looking for anything too extravagent. Though the menus at all the places you guys have suggested that i have explored thus far look amazing, I would love some more non-bar based choices if possible. In each city I do not know exactly where I will be staying, so anything in the general area is good. I dont believe transportation should be a huge issue either.
For anyone who is curious, so far the DEFFINITE locations i will be visting are Zingerman's in Ann Arbor, The Icon and Brick House BBQ in Madison, Frontera in Chicago, and Uptown Kitchen in South Bend. I still have a few of the places you all have so kindly suggested to explore a little closer, but if you have any more suggests of restaurants or even specific dishes to try at any of these locations please keep them comming!

So my birthday is comming up soon (YAY!!!!!!!) and I keep getting asked about what I want. The issue is I have no idea. All I know is I don't really want like an object but more of an experience. I was thinking NYC was probably my best bet. Any ideas for great NYC food experiences I can ask for?!

This summer I will be going on a trip that consists of visits in Chicago, IL, Madison, WI, Ann Arbor, MI, South Bend, Indiana, and West Lafayette, Indiana, and I want to experience the BEST foods these cities have to offer. So any suggestions for restaurants in any of these cities, or places close by?